Ribbons Cut on the Final Phase of Highland Dwellings

The District of Columbia Housing Authority, city officials, and community members cut the ribbon on the final building in the Highland Dwellings redevelopment.

The $70 million comprehensive gut rehabilitation project began in 2014 and completely refurbished the more than 200-unit complex in multiple phases. The final phase is the 24-unit senior building at 400 Atlantic Avenue, S.E.

“It was important to me that the last thing I did as Executive Director of the D.C. Housing Authority was to not only be in Ward 8, but to be here at Highland,” said Adrianne Todman at the ceremony on May 19.

The project started with a simple $7 million stimulus grant for painting, but soon DCHA’s Office of Capital Programs realized it would be better to completely redo the complex.

“Now Highland Dwellings is bringing a sense of vitality to this corridor,” said Todman, who noted that the senior building is helping many former Highland Dwellings residents stay in the neighborhood.

Ward 8 Council member Trayon White cheered for his neighbors coming back. White was raised just three blocks away from the complex.

“Housing isn’t something that we want, it is something we need,” he said. “People that were born here, raised here, can stay here and benefit from the neighborhood schools and amenities.”

In addition to DCHA’s funding, bond proceeds, and tax credit equity funding, the D.C. Housing Finance Agency invested $35.5 million into the project to make it possible.

DCHFA Executive Director Todd A. Lee said that due to federal funding reductions, the city and DCHA have been forced “to not only get creative, but to get bold” with their financing structures to make sure “every income brand, in every ward, in every corner” of the city has “access to top quality housing.”

He said, “The housing authority is one of the most prolific builders in this city” creating “safe, quality housing” for all D.C. residents.

The 24-unit senior building includes 10 units for the disabled and 3,000 square feet of commercial space or program space.